Sakova Believes Coalition Will Remain Functional Following Ferencak's Expulsion

Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) - Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) has said that she believes the governing coalition will still be functional even after the expulsion of MP Jan Ferencak (Independent) from the Voice-SD party. "Let's try to believe that the coalition will be functional," said the economy minister when answering a question concerning the three MPs around Sport Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent) following the government session on Wednesday (18 March). Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) stated that the government manifesto is being fulfilled and that he sees no problem in this regard. "My laws, and I believe also the laws of the coalition as a whole, often pass with the same majority as was the case at the time when this coalition was formed," he said. The coalition Voice-SD party announced on Wednesday that it has expelled MP Ferencak from its ranks. According to the party, this step followed a proposal from the Kezmarok district organisation. The proposal was subsequently approved by the Voice regional council in Presov region and its decision was then formally confirmed by the party leadership. Ferencak views his expulsion from the party as persecution. He said that he'll only support bills that benefit the Slovak people and that he sees no reason for him to support any other laws. Ferencak quit the Voice-SD parliamentary caucus late last year after Parliament, following a proposal by Voice-SD MPs, removed him from the helm of the European affairs committee. He argued at the time that he couldn't remain in a political environment in which critical words lead to persecution. However, he declared that he would remain a member of the party. Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok commented at the time that he had no intention of expelling Ferencak, but he criticised some of his actions over the past year. ko/df